In a tragic incident that unfolded in South Carolina, a man lost his life after a firework he had placed on his head detonated.
The family of the deceased, Allen Ray McGrew, expressed their deep trauma following the incident. The incident was all the more shocking as footage surfaced showing McGrew in high spirits, dancing and enjoying himself mere hours before the fatal accident.
As reported by The New York Post, McGrew was captured on video, fully adorned in red, white, and blue attire, including an Uncle Sam suit, top hat, and beard. The video was taken in Summerville, a town located approximately 35 minutes north of Charleston. McGrew, a 41-year-old HVAC worker, was seen smoking a cigarette, performing a jovial dance, and playfully gesturing with his hands, all while mortars smoldered in the background. Friends and family members watched and laughed, enjoying the festive atmosphere.
"He's dancing to his own tune," one observer noted, while another hinted at the "big show" that was to come. However, the jovial atmosphere took a tragic turn when McGrew placed a large, lit firework atop his stars-and-stripes hat. "I thought he was just showboating before he set it on the ground," his wife, Paige Morris McGrew, told the Post and Courier. "I didn't realize he had already lit it."
The firework detonated, causing fatal head injuries to McGrew. He was pronounced dead at the scene. "We're traumatized," his 20-year-old son, Hunter McGrew, told The Post.
The family, who has been inundated with attention following the incident, vehemently denied any portrayal of McGrew as a "drunken fool." They insisted that McGrew, who rarely drank, was celebrating not only Independence Day but also his son's recent engagement. His wife shared that he had gone "all out" to celebrate the addition of a daughter-in-law to the family.
"He loved this country and looked forward to celebrating every year," Paige McGrew, 53, told The Post. She recalled a poignant moment just before the incident when he hugged her and his son, expressing his deep affection for them. "You are my rock, and you are my heart," he had said.
The couple had been together since at least 2017 and had married just last year. Social media photos showed them wearing matching "Mr." and "Mrs." T-shirts around the time of their April 2023 wedding. "He was a genuine, good person and he loved life," Paige McGrew told the Post and Courier. "He worked hard and he played hard."
Neighbors remembered McGrew as "the nicest guy" who would cut everyone's lawn and was always ready to lend a helping hand. Unfortunately, McGrew's death was not an isolated incident. Reports indicate that at least four people were killed in firework accidents this year, with many more sustaining injuries.
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